A Staffordshire holiday park top gold accolade.
Oakland Holiday Park, near the village of Brewood, was named as the overall winner in the holiday parks category at the Enjoy Staffordshire Tourism Awards, beating all other Staffordshire parks to the title.
Stepping up to receive the honour was Adam Breakspeare, whose family has owned Oakland Holiday Park for more than 30 years.
Since acquiring the park, they have invested a great deal of time and energy into creating first-class surroundings where guests can own a holiday home or hire a self-catering chalet.
Their raft of initiatives over the years has included the installation of a luxury indoor pool and sauna which is designed to make the smallest splash possible on the environment.
Heating for the pool water is provided by a highly efficient solar energy system, and large sky lights on the building’s roof mean that the use of artificial lighting is greatly reduced.
These and other conservation measures have led to the park once again this year being awarded the Staffordshire Environmental Quality Mark (SEQM) following an in-depth sustainability audit.
The mark highlights businesses not only run on sustainable lines, but which are also helping to conserve the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of the county.
Rainfall is harvested for irrigating the many shrubs and flowers planted throughout the park, many of which have high nectar-bearing blooms which draw butterflies and honey bees.
In addition, the family has installed many bird, bat and owl boxes throughout the nine-acre grounds which are set alongside the Shropshire Union canal – itself a magnet for bird life.
According to the company’s staff:
“The criteria for these awards place a strong emphasis on the excellence of service provided tomers, and the quality of the welcome and hospitality provided. It is our whole team which delivers the high standards our guests expect.
“We will be continuing to holiday in this wonderful part of the country,” added Adam.
The Staffordshire Tourism Awards, with a glitzy 1950s theme, ton Manor Theme Park and were hosted by BBC TV presenter Joanne Malin.
There is more information about the park on its website at www.oaklandholidaypark.co.uk